Telegraph: City fought to the end

Unsurprisingly, City’s UEFA Champions League defeat at the Nou Camp dominates the back pages of the newspapers you’re waking up to this morning.

Praise for FC Barcelona is in ready supply for the manner in which they approached this last 16 second leg but there’s also plenty of credit extended to City for at least making a game of it, despite the 2-0 deficit at half-time in the tie.

Henry Winter of the Telegraph is as measured and reasonable as ever in his appraisal of this absorbing encounter and reserves special compliments for the captain.

“Kompany is such a model professional, whole-heartedly committed to being the very best leader of the team and ambassador for the club, that one would have needed a heart of granite not to have some sympathy for City’s captain as he shook hands with the victors, his European dream wrecked for another year,” Winter asserts.

“This was a game when Kompany’s men had always been up against it, having conceded two away goals, but this was also a game which produced certain positives.

“Joe Hart demonstrated how he has trained on again under Manuel Pellegrini’s astute handling of that mid-season wobble. James Milner worked tirelessly for City, shuttling back and forth, making tackles and occasional chances. Edin Dzeko alarmed Barcelona’s centre-halves when he came on.

“City should not be too discouraged. They have acquired more experience of life in the VIP quarter of European football. They are developing a camaraderie that saw them compete to the very death here, even when reduced to 10.”